Goalline technology: A computer-generated image shows the ball over the line

But he was not alone in impressing in the back four. Alongside Terry, Joleon Lescott also did well. As did Glen Johnson to Terry’s right. Such a solid defensive performance will do Johnson’s confidence no harm and the save Joe Hart made in the second half to deny Yevhen Konoplianka highlighted the quality of England’s goalkeeper too.

Ahead of them Gerrard and Scott Parker again ran themselves into the ground. No England player ran further than Parker.

But Gerrard offers so much more than protection for the back four. He is proving a fine captain in this tournament, leading by example and providing the kind of service every striker dreams of.

He provided the ball for Lescott against France, for Andy Carroll against Sweden and it was his ball Rooney converted here from less than a yard.

Rooney enjoyed a touch of good fortune too. The ball bounced up beautifully for him after clipping Yevhen Khacheridi and slipping through the hands of Andriy Pyatov. But it was a marvellous cross from Gerrard and it came after he had beaten the full back too.

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